The dirt was flying. Fans at the newly renovated Belmont Park were holding their breath because, honestly, nobody expected a closer to find that kind of gear on a track that had been playing so fast all day. When we look back at the results from the Belmont, the 2025 edition won’t just be remembered for the payout at the window. It’ll be remembered as the moment the hierarchy of this three-year-old crop finally made sense.
Dorrino didn't just win. He evaporated the competition.
For weeks, the backstretch chatter was all about whether the Preakness winner could handle the "Test of the Champion." Saratoga had been the temporary home for this race while the grandstand at Belmont was getting its facelift, but being back on Long Island changed the geometry of the race entirely. You’ve got these massive, sweeping turns that eat up horses who haven't been trained for stamina.
The Break That Changed Everything
Right out of the gate, the speed was intense. We saw Midnight Runner and Celtic Gold duel for the lead through a blistering opening quarter. It was a mistake. You can't run those kinds of fractions at Belmont and expect to have anything left when you hit the top of the stretch. By the time they passed the mile marker, the pacesetters were gapping. Their ears were pinned back, but their legs were heavy.
That's when Flavien Prat made his move on Dorrino.
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It was surgical. He didn't swing wide. He sat chilly in the pocket, waited for a seam to open between a tiring Iron Will and the rail, and then he just... went. It was basically a repeat of the 2024 tactical masterclass we saw from some of the greats, but with more raw power. The final time of 2:27.42 wasn't a record, but given the moisture content in the track that afternoon, it was incredibly stout.
Breaking Down the 2025 Results from the Belmont
If you look at the official results from the Belmont, the margins tell the real story. Dorrino finished three and a half lengths clear. Behind him, it was a scramble for the minor awards. Sierra Leone’s younger cousin, Mountain Peak, snagged second place by a nose over a fast-closing West Coast Fly.
- Dorrino (Winner): Paid $8.40 on a $2 win bet.
- Mountain Peak (Place): Huge value here for the exacta bettors who ignored the morning line.
- West Coast Fly (Show): A gutsy performance after getting squeezed at the start.
The superfecta was a nightmare for most casual bettors. A longshot named Quiet Riot hung around for fourth, which meant the $1 payout was north of $12,000. People were tearing up tickets left and right in the grandstand. It's the Belmont. It does that to you.
Why the Favorites Flopped
Everyone was talking about Big City Lights leading up to the Saturday post time. He had the pedigree. He had the Beyer speed figures. But he looked "washy" in the paddock—sweating through his coat, agitated, fighting his handler. Expert analysts like Andy Beyer and the Daily Racing Form crew have pointed out for years that the Belmont is as much a mental test as a physical one. If a horse loses the race in the tunnel, they aren't winning it on the track.
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He finished a disappointing sixth.
There's a specific kind of fatigue that sets in at the 12-furlong mark. It’s called "the wall." Most of these horses have never run 1.5 miles in their lives, and most will never do it again. The 2025 results from the Belmont proved that tactical speed is great, but bottomless stamina is the only currency that matters in June.
The Training Factor: Todd Pletcher’s Shadow
You can't talk about these results without mentioning the training patterns. While Dorrino is out of the Danny Gargan barn, the influence of the "Pletcher Style" was all over the leaderboard. The emphasis on long, slow gallops at Saratoga during the spring seems to be the blueprint now.
Gargan took a page out of that book.
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He didn't overwork the colt. Instead of sharp 4f breezes, he focused on mile-long stamina holds. It paid off. When the rest of the field hit the 3/16ths pole and started oxygen-debt breathing, Dorrino looked like he was just getting started. It sort of makes you wonder why more trainers don't skip the Preakness to focus on this.
What This Means for the Travers Stakes
The "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga is the next logical step. Traditionally, the results from the Belmont dictate the favorite for the Travers. With Dorrino looking this dominant, he’s going to be the heavy favorite come August. But Saratoga is a different beast. The "Graveyard of Champions" has a way of humbling Belmont winners.
Remember Arcangelo? Or Mo Donegal? Winning the Belmont takes a massive toll on a three-year-old’s frame. They lose weight. They get "tucked up." The recovery period is usually 30 to 45 days of basically doing nothing but eating grain and walking. If Dorrino doesn't bounce back quickly, the door stays open for the late bloomers who skipped the Triple Crown trail entirely.
Betting Insights and Future Value
If you're looking at the historical trends from these results, keep an eye on the horses that finished 4th through 6th. Often, these are the horses that actually "won" the gallop-out. Quiet Riot was actually gaining ground three jumps after the wire. That’s a horse you want to bet on when the distance drops back to 1 1/8 miles.
- The "Bounce" Theory: Watch out for Dorrino in his next start. A massive effort at 1.5 miles often leads to a flat performance the next time out.
- Sire Power: Tapit's influence continues to dominate. Even if he isn't the direct sire, the bloodlines in the top three finishers all traced back to that specific stamina-rich DNA.
- Track Bias: The 2025 surface was playing fair, but the rail was definitely "dead" in the early afternoon. Dorrino winning from the three-path confirms he was just the best athlete on the grounds.
Actionable Steps for Racing Fans
To truly capitalize on what we learned from the results from the Belmont, you need to stop looking at just the finishing positions. Go back and watch the replay specifically focusing on the backstretch. Look for the horses that were fighting the jockey’s restraints.
- Check the Replays: Analyze the first 400 meters. If a horse was rank (pulling too hard), mark them down for a shorter race later in the summer.
- Monitor the Stakes Schedule: Follow the "Belmont alumni" as they head to the Jim Dandy or the Haskell. The Haskell in New Jersey usually attracts the speed, while the Jim Dandy attracts the grinders.
- Watch the Weight: Check the post-race reports for any mentions of horses losing significant body weight. A horse that drops 50 lbs after the Belmont usually needs a long vacation before they are competitive again.
The 2025 season is far from over, but the hierarchy has been set. Dorrino is the king of the division for now, and the rest of the field is just playing catch-up.